Sammy Rae & The Friends at The Salt Shed in Chicago 2026

23 Oct, 2026 John Kosiewicz Concert Reviews, Latest, Pop, Soul 0

Sammy Rae & The Friends - Photo credit: John Kosiewicz

Sammy Rae & The Friends Bring a Night of Singing and Dancing to the Salt Shed

On Friday, October 23, 2026, Sammy Rae & The Friends returned to Chicago’s Salt Shed for their the Get Down! tour. The night was full of music that kept fans singing, dancing, and swaying their arms throughout the show. The tour also featured Melt who opened the night, setting the stage for an evening that included familiar favorites, cover songs, and new music from both bands.

I previously photographed Sammy Rae & The Friends at the Metro in Chicago on March 18, 2022. However, I was disappointed to miss their first Salt Shed performance in fall 2024 because of a family emergency, so it was good to finally catch them at the venue. Sammy Rae mentioned how much they loved that earlier Salt Shed show a couple of times during the night.

Melt

Melt got things started with a nine-song set that included “Find Somebody,” “Heaven,” “Grass Is Greener,” “Sour Candy,” and “Fake Romantic.” The band also performed “Teenage Dirtbag,” originally recorded by Wheatus. A definite highlight was “Fever,” a new, unreleased song that gave fans an early listen to material they may not have heard before. Melt finished its set with “Plant the Garden.” Look for the latest information on the band at their website: melttheband.com

Sammy Rae & The Friends at The Salt Shed

Sammy Rae & The Friends kept the night moving with a 13-song set. “Denim Jacket” opened the performance, followed by “You Just Wanna Get With My Friend” and “Sleep on My Couch.” The set also included a couple of familiar songs by other artists. The band performed Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You” and “Rich Man,” originally recorded by Climax Blues Band. For “Rich Man,” Melt returned to the stage to perform with them. They also combined “War Pigs” and “Flesh & Bone” for a single performance.

The band introduced a brand-new, unreleased song called “Kissing in the West Village.” Sammy Rae explained that the song was a love letter to those moments when you’re young and a kiss feels like no big deal. She also shared a little background about Manhattan’s West Village and its place in LGBTQ+ history. The audience got to hear the song before its release plans were even known. Other songs included “Closer To You,” “Jackie Onassis,” and “Good Life.” “The Feeling” gave Sammy Rae a solo moment before “Boogie All By Yourself” and a Memphis version of “Talk It Up”. They closed the set with “Let’s Throw a Party!”

Supporting Charities on Tour

The show also highlighted a couple of efforts beyond the music. The tour is sponsored by HeadCount, an organization that connects with young people at concerts and festivals and provides voter registration and other civic engagement resources.

Sammy Rae also explained that four charities rotate throughout the tour, with proceeds from a designated merchandise item benefiting a different organization each night. For the October 23 show, 100% of the proceeds from tour poster sales went to FreeFrom. The national, survivor-led organization works to help survivors of gender-based violence build economic freedom and safety.

It was another way to give fans an opportunity to support a cause while attending the show.

Conclusion

From Melt’s introduction of new music to Sammy Rae & The Friends’ mix of originals and covers, the show gave fans plenty to enjoy. It was great to finally see Sammy Rae & The Friends back at the Salt Shed after missing their previous appearance. I first photographed the band at Metro Chicago in 2022, so it was nice to catch up with them again. Beyond the music, the night was also a reminder of how live shows can bring people together.